CHAPTER FIVE

The group climbed of the train and onto the Hogsmeade platform.

"Firs' years, follow me!" The voice was rigid and belonged to the large man with a lamp in his large hands. "C'mon! firs' years this a way!"

"Oh my gosh!" Lily said. She had never seen a man that wide or that tall; he was about 2 times taller than the average man and at least 5 times as wide. His face was lost in a tangle of hair, only his beady black eyes were to be seen. As the group walked fourth, Lily thought they were heading for the carriages that loomed ahead, but to her surprise and horror they passed the carriages and crossed to a narrow dirt path. Soon they were surrounded by woods and the only noises were the sounds of their own footfalls.

After walking quietly through the woods for 5 minutes they came to a large lake with a army of boats waiting to take them across.

"No more'n four to a boat." The large man's voice boomed over the surface of the lake. Lily, Razz, TK, and Lucy climbed into one boat, and Anna, Carissa, Jody-louise, and Lynn climbed into another.

"Everyone ready? Right then-FORWARD!"

The boats moved off all at once, gliding across the smooth surface of the lake. Nobody spoke a word; all were enchanted by this magical atmosphere. Ahead, Hogwarts stood on a cliff, windows glowing warmly, and the many turrets and towers pierced through the night sky.

"Heads down!" The man bellowed as they came closer to the cliff. The boats pulled them through a curtain of hanging ivy and into a dark tunnel. The boats stopped at the opposite bank and students stepped onto a rocky terrain. They walked up a flight of steps and onto the smooth school grounds.

They ascended the stone steps and crowed around the front oak doors. The large man raised a gigantic fist and knocked three times on the doors.

A stern looking woman opened the doors, "Thank you, Hagrid, I'll take them from here. Follow me." Her hair was up in a tight bun and she was wearing emerald green robes. She led them to the double doors of the great hall and stopped.

"Welcome to Hogwarts. I am your transfiguration Professor, Professor McGonagall, and head of Gryffindor house. When you enter these doors you will be sorted into one of the four houses. The four house are Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff. I'll come get you when we are ready, please wait quietly." With that Professor McGonagall entered the hall.

The first years stood anxiously by the doors, only the sound of shuffling feet was heard. Finally, five minutes later, the doors swung wide open. "We are ready for you now. Please make a single file line and come along." They shifted into single file and entered the great hall. Torches lined the walls and above the night sky was clear and the stars shined brightly.

All eyes were on the first years. Lily looked down at her feet, everyone's gaze piercing into her. The line came to a abrupt stop and Lily almost bumped into Jody-Louise who was in front of her. Professor McGonagall placed a four legged stool in front of the staff table and an old frayed hat on top of it. All eyes were on the hat now, which began to sing:

I may not be pretty,
But I am what I must be,
For I am the Hogwarts Sorting Hat,
And I can outwit all other caps.
There is nothing concealed in your head,
That I cannot perceive.
You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where live those brave of heart,
By Gryffindor, who prizes their daring,
Far beyond the rest;
Or perhaps in Hufflepuff,
Where dwell the honest and faithful,
By Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Generally worthy of admittance;
Yet, you might belong in clever Ravenclaw,
Where those of intelligence and wisdom,
Will always be at home,
By Ravenclaw, the knowledgeable
Would always be finest;
You might belong in Slytherin,
Those resourceful folk will do anything,
To accomplish their aim,
By Slytherin, the ambitious
He greatly loved.
Now slip me on and I will tell you,
Where you should be.


The hall rang with applause as the sorting hat finished its song.

"When I call your name, please sit on the stool and I'll place the hat on your head. As soon as it calls out your house, go to the appropriate table……Adam Apodaca."

Adam walked up and sat on the stool and Professor McGonagall placed the hat on his head, which fell over his ears and hiding his eyes from view. He sat there for a few silent moments, then- "RAVENCLAW!" Cried the hat. The Ravenclaw table applaused loudly as Adam walked over with a wide grin on his face.

"Brandon Barnes."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Amy Black."
"SLYTHERIN!"

"Sirius Black."
"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Melissa Chavis."
"RAVENCLAW!"

"Victor Crabbe."
"SLYTHERIN!"

"Carissa Chopik"
"GRYFFINDOR!"

Lily applauded with the rest of the Gryffindors as Carissa made her way to the Gryffindor table. Lily stared up at the enchanted ceiling, where the stars shone brightly and moon glowed. She was so absorbed in the sky, that Professor McGonagall had to call her name twice before Lily heard her.

"Lily Evans."

Lily walked up to the stool and sat down. Seconds later Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat over her head. "You have many talents, my dear. Now where shall I put you? Hmm……ah! Yes, this seems most fitting…….GRYFFINDOR!" Lily sighed with relief and stalked over to the applauding Gryffindor table. Lily took the seat next to Carissa. "I hope the others make it." Carissa whispered to Lily.

"Krystal Fernes."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"George Goyle."
"SLYTHERIN!"

"Lucy Granger."
"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Anna Helene."
"GRYFFINDOR!"

lily sighed, so far all of her friends were in Gryffindor with her. She looked at the empty plates before her and wished the sorting would hurry up-Jennifer Jenning became a Ravenclaw-she was hungry.

"Jody-Louise."
"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Remus Lupin."
"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Lynn."
"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Lucius Malfoy."
"SLYTHERIN!"

"Narissa Minick"
"SLYTHERIN!"

Lily's stomache churned with hunger, and seeing Malfoy make Slytherin didn't help any.

"Peter Pettigrew." Peter was as white as a ghost and shaking. He walked up to the stool and sat, shoulders hunched.

"GRYFFINDOR!" A smile broke out over his nervous face.

"James Potter."
"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Rebecca Rosman."
"HUFFLEPUFF!"

"Severus Snape."

"SLYTHERIN!"

"TK."
"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Cathryn Tyson."
"GRYFFINDOR!"

"Julie Risings."
"RAVENCLAW!"

"Joey Washington."
"HUFFLEPUFF."

Professor McGonagall took the hat and stool out of the great hall. Dumbledore, as though that was his cue, stood up and the great hall feel silent

"Welcome. Before we began our feast, I must address a few things. Firstly the Forbidden Forest is banned to all students(Lily's stomach did the flips at this announcement),and secondly ,please note that caution be taken when near our newest feature; the whomping willow." Dumbledore smiled at the crowd of students before him, "let the feast began!"He said and sat down.

The platters before them filled with food, causing lily to jump back in surprise, but when the shock wore off she began to eat.

"Mmm, 'his is 'ooo good, i was 'arving!" sirius said through a mouth full of roast.

"You said it!" James said filling his plate with everything in sight.

"boys." Lynn said, rolling her eyes.

After the feast, they were led to Gryffindor tower by the Gryffindor prefect. The group of Gryffindors stopped in front of a portrait of a fat lady in a pink dress.

"Password?" she asked.

"Lethifold."said the Gryffindor prefect and the protrait swung open.

"Welcome to the Gryffindor common room. Boys dormitories upstairs and down to your left. Girls, the same on your right."

Lily looked around the common room, it was extremly comfortable with sqishy red armchairs and a fire cackling warmly in the hearth. lily sighed, she was at home.